Device for carrying a container

ABSTRACT

A device and method are provided for supporting a food container and the like. The device includes a base member, a central container receiving portion and a plurality of support legs. The plurality of support legs are positioned on a side of the base member opposite the central container receiving portion. In one embodiment, the device is formed of a unitary body made of a microwave transparent material.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/646,556, filed on Jan. 25,2005, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/663,441, filedon Mar. 18, 2005, the contents of each of the foregoing applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for carrying containers. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a device for carryingcontainers of food items and the like for heating in a microwave oven.

Food containers of all sorts are used for heating food items and thelike in a microwave oven. However, when heated, these containers are hotto the touch and can cause burns to a person's fingers when held. Inparticular, ceramic containers can be extremely hot to the touch.Additionally, there is no warning that a container is hot since the airinside the microwave oven is not particularly hot to warn a person thata container inside may be hot to the touch. Persons have used cloth hotpads to prevent hands from burning, but these pads can be difficult touse. Thus, there is a need for a device to carry food containers thathave been heated in a microwave that is not hot to the touch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device and method are provided for supporting a food container and thelike. The device includes a base member, a central container receivingportion and a plurality of support legs. The plurality of support legsare positioned on a side of the base member opposite the centralcontainer receiving portion. In one embodiment, the device is formed ofa unitary body made of a microwave transparent material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container carrying device from a firstside.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container carrying device of FIG. 1from a second side.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG. 1supporting a plate.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG. 1supporting a bowl.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG. 1supporting a cup.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternative container carrying device.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the container carrying device of FIG. 6supporting a bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a device 10 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. Device 10 is made of a unitary body including a basemember 12. One embodiment of device 10 is sold under the trade nameMicrowave Caddy™. FIG. 1 illustrates a first side 14 of base member 12that includes a plurality of support legs 16. First side 14 alsoincludes a first raised step portion 20 and a second raised step portion22. Base member 12 includes apertures 24 that allow device 10 to be hungwhen not in use or grasped by a person when carrying. The plurality oflegs 16 includes three spaced apart legs positioned in a circularconfiguration. The legs 16 are of sufficient height to allow fingerclearance such that a person's fingers can be inserted underneath basemember 12 to easily grasp device 10. Additionally, legs 16 are spacedapart from an edge of the base member 12 such that a person can easilygrab device 10. Many microwave ovens often include turntables, and thusspacing legs 16 from an edge of base member 12 allow device 10 to beeasily grasped by a person regardless of orientation of device 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second side 30 of base member 12, opposite of firstside 14. Second side 30 includes a plurality of support legs 32. Secondside 30 also includes a first recessed step portion 34 and a secondrecessed step portion 36. The plurality of legs 32 includes three spacedapart legs positioned in a circular configuration. Legs 32, similar tolegs 16, also are of sufficient height to provide finger clearance andspaced apart from an edge of base member 12 such that device 10 caneasily be grasped and held by a person.

First side 14 and second side 30 include central container receivingportions that are configured such that device 10 can carry differenttypes of food containers and the like. Such containers include, but arenot limited to, cups, bowls and plates. The container receiving portionsinclude at least one surface that is at an angle with respect to thebase member 12. In order to accommodate containers of different sizes,first side 14 and second side 30 include structures to engage andreceive various types of containers. In an exemplary embodiment, thecircular configuration formed by the plurality of legs 32 has a smallerdiameter than the circular configuration formed by the plurality of legs16. When first side 14 is used to receive different size containers,legs 32 support device 10. Alternatively, when second side 30 is used toreceive different size containers, legs 16 support device 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates device 10 supporting a plate 40. On first side 14,first raised step portion 20 can be sized to engage an underside ofplate 40, for example a plate having a 12″ diameter. The circularconfiguration formed by legs 16 also serve to engage the plate 40 toprevent the plate 40 from slipping. Legs 16 can be of a predeterminedheight to easily accommodate plates or other types of containers asdesired. Second raised step portion 22 can be sized to engage anunderside of a small plate, for example a plate having a 9″ diameter. Insituations where first side 14 engages a container, legs 32 are placedon a surface to provide support for device 10 and the container.

FIG. 4 illustrates device 10 supporting a bowl 42. First recessedportion 34 on second side 30 can be sized to engage bowl 42. Thecircular configuration formed by legs 32 can engage a bowl to preventthe bowl from slipping. FIG. 5 illustrates device 10 supporting a cup44. Second recessed portion 36 can be sized to engage cup 44 oralternatively a small bowl. Legs 32 can also be of a predeterminedheight to easily accommodate bowls and serve as a container receivingportion. When second side 30 is used to engage a container, legs 16serve to support device 10 and the container.

Device 10 is made of a material that is microwave transparent, such aspolypropylene. Other examples include polycarbonate, polysulfone andstyrene copolymers such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Themicrowave transparent material is substantially unaffected by microwavesand thus does not heat to a significant temperature in a microwave. As aresult, device 10 is not hot to the touch after being heated in themicrowave. A person can place a food container on device 10, heat thefood for a desired time and remove device 10 without the need for a hotpad to prevent fingers from being burned.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a further embodiment of a carrying deviceaccording to the present invention. Device 50 includes a base member 52,a central aperture 54 and a plurality of support legs 56. Device 50 ismade of a microwave transparent material as discussed above. Centralaperture 54 forms a container receiving portion with a surface angledwith respect to base member 52. In FIG. 7, a bowl 58 is inserted intoaperture 54 and thus device 50 can support bowl 58 for heating in amicrowave.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A carrying device, comprising: a base member having a first side anda second side opposite the first side; a central container receivingportion positioned on the first side; and a plurality of support legspositioned on the second side.
 2. The carrying device of claim 1 andfurther comprising a plurality of support legs positioned on the firstside.
 3. The carrying device of claim 1 wherein the base member isround.
 4. The carrying device of claim 1 wherein the central containerreceiving portion includes a raised step portion.
 5. The carrying deviceof claim 4 wherein the central container receiving portion includes asecond raised step portion.
 6. The carrying device of claim 1 whereinthe central container receiving portion includes a recessed stepportion.
 7. The carrying device of claim 6 wherein the central containerreceiving portion includes a second recessed step portion.
 8. Thecarrying device of claim 1 wherein the central container receivingportion includes a central aperture.
 9. The carrying device of claim 1wherein the plurality of support legs include three legs positioned in acircular configuration and spaced apart from an edge of the base member.10. The carrying device of claim 9 and further comprising a secondplurality of support legs positioned on the first side in a secondcircular configuration having a smaller diameter than the firstmentioned circular configuration.
 11. The carrying device of claim 1wherein the base member, central container receiving portion andplurality of support legs are formed of a unitary body made of amicrowave transparent material.
 12. The carrying device of claim 10wherein the microwave transparent material is one of polypropylene,polycarbonate, polysulfone, and a styrene copolymer.
 13. The carryingdevice of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of spaced apartapertures positioned on the base member.
 14. A combination, comprising:a carrying device including: a base member having a first side and asecond side opposite the first side; a central container receivingportion positioned on the first side; and a plurality of support legspositioned on the second side; and a container positioned on the centralcontainer receiving portion.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein thecontainer is one of a bowl, a plate and a cup.
 16. A method of heatingfood in a microwave oven, comprising: providing in a body a base memberhaving a first side and a second side opposite the first side; providingin the body a central container receiving portion on the first side; andproviding in the body a plurality of support legs on the second side.17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising positioning acontainer in the container receiving portion.
 18. The method of claim 17and further comprising placing the plurality of support legs on aninterior surface of the microwave oven.
 19. The method of claim 16wherein the body is made of a microwave transparent material.
 20. Themethod of claim 16 wherein the central containers receiving portionincludes a surface that is at an angle with respect to the base member.